British Politician Admits Accepting Russian Funds to Promote Kremlin Positions in European Parliament
LONDON – In a stunning reversal, Nathan Gill, a former member of the European Parliament, confessed in court to accepting payments from Russia to advocate for positions aligned with the Kremlin, just months before the invasion of Ukraine. Gill,who represented Wales in the European Parliament for six years,initially denied receiving money for his pro-Russian activities,but admitted to the charges during ongoing court proceedings.
According to evidence presented in court, between December 6, 2018, and July 18, 2019, Gill accepted funds to appear on pro-Russian television in Ukraine, as reported by the BBC.He is also accused of organizing events featuring pro-Russian politicians, also for payment.
Gill, 52, served in the European parliament from 2014 to 2020, initially elected as a member of the UK Independence Party before later joining the Brexit Party. He pleaded not guilty to eight charges of bribery and one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery in February, but changed his plea on one count. The confession followed the surfacing of damning WhatsApp messages revealing his financial relationship with Oleg Woloschyn.
Through Woloschyn’s connections, Gill actively promoted Russian positions regarding the Ukraine conflict, both within the European Parliament and directly in Ukraine through television interviews. He reportedly expressed pro-Russian sentiments after accepting the financial compensation.
Woloschyn, a pro-Russian Ukrainian politician, fled the country ten days before the russian invasion and has since been charged in absentia with high treason for “supporting the military-political leadership of Russia in subversive activities against Ukraine.” His current whereabouts are unknown.
“Nathan Gill has admitted to giving explanations in the European Parliament or in conjunction with these questions, making explanations and carrying out other activities to support Prorussian parties in the Ukraine conflict,” stated Judge Cheema-Grubb on Friday.
dominic Murphy, a senior investigator from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, emphasized the gravity of the case: “This case touches the core of our democratic values, and as we have shown here, we will not hesitate to determine and stop him who tries to damage or undermine these values and our national security.”
Sentencing is scheduled for November. Gill’s defense lawyer is currently seeking his release from custody, arguing he should be allowed to reunite with his wife and five children. Though, the lawyer acknowledged, “it is indeed expected to inevitably receive an immediate prison sentence.”